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Amarinder defies prohibitory orders
Sukhbir calls for action against Harbhagwan
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Capt: Nothing to do with ex-AG’s statement in HC
CM smells a plot
Sarna calls it a friendly match between Centre, Badal
Schoolboy kept in ‘solitary confinement’ for over a week
Mann: Rise above caste divide
Sehajdhari issue as old as Gurdwara Act
Who qualifies as a Sikh?
Sehajdhari term does not exist in Sikhism, claims Sant Samaj
Amend Gurdwara Act, says Makkar
Separate Marriage Act
Moga sex scandal an extraordinary case, CBI probe necessary, rules apex court
College, university teachers to
observe Sept 5 as ‘Black Day’
Protest against fresh violence at medical college
Pak grants funds for maintenance of Rai Bular Khan’s graveyard
Prime accused in Rulda Singh murder case questioned
I-T raids on realty developers
Demolition of nursing college
Consumer panel asks SBoP to pay Rs 2,600
Blood donation camp
Ludhiana resident held with revolver
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Amarinder defies prohibitory orders
Gobindpura (Mansa), Sept 2 All roads leading to the village were sealed but Amarinder drove in along with other party leaders, including Lal Singh, Rana Sodhi, Arvind Khanna and local MLA Mangat Rai Bansal, after a brief argument with top police officials. They also launched a "Morcha" against the SAD-BJP coalition government. DIG (Bathinda-Mansa range) PS Grewal and Mansa SSP SPS Parmar only allowed entry to three vehicles carrying Capt Amarinder, Bhattal and a handful of other leaders. The barricades were then again placed on the road and no one was allowed entry to the village. MLAs Gurpreet Singh Kangar, Ajaib Singh Bhatti, Ajitinder Singh Mofar and Makhan Singh staged a sit-in on the road and raised slogans against Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal after they were denied entry.
Amarinder stopped outside the dwellings of the farm labourers and those belonging to the weaker sections who had "not been paid any compensation" for the acquired land and assured them that the Congress would "forcefully plead their case". Addressing the villagers who had assembled at the gurdwara, he assured a better deal to the families of the protesting farmers whose fertile land had been acquired at a "pittance". He said while he had been pressing upon the state government to keep the farmers' interests paramount but in case it still went ahead with its acquisition policy, he would ensure that justice was done when the Congress "came to power" after the assembly elections. He announced that the Congress would watch the outcome of the September 13 meeting in which Badal had invited leaders of the 17 farmer unions for the second round of talks. The party would further intensify the agitation if the farmers did not get their due in the meeting. Earlier, he addressed a large public rally at nearby Bareta town that was organised in support of the protesting farmers. The entire township had been turned into a garrison with huge presence of police force drawn from across the state. After the rally, Amarinder led a convoy of hundreds of vehicles towards Gobindpura. However, he was stopped at the link road leading to the village. The police officers on the spot permitted his vehicle and an escort to go inside while hundreds of other vehicles waited outside. Amarinder spent about an hour with the farmers in Gobindpura assuring them that the new land policy at the Centre was in their interest. At the Bareta rally, Amarinder questioned the hurry with which the SAD-BJP government was rushing through signing land deals with various private companies. He also questioned the method of allotting power projects through direct negotiations instead of the more transparent global tendering and competitive bidding as was done during his regime. Bhattal accused the government of "looting and beating up" people. She remarked that the days of the SAD-BJP coalition were numbered. Among others present on the occasion were MP Vijeyendra Singla, MLAs Harminder Singh Jassi, Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu, Rana KP, OP Soni, Sher Singh Ghagowal and Razia Sultan.
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Sukhbir calls for action against Harbhagwan
Chandigarh, September 2 SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal urged the Punjab and Haryana High Court to take suo motu notice of Centre’s counsel Harbhagwan Singh’s role in the matter. He said an inquiry could be conducted within a month to ascertain who had issued instructions to him to tell the court that the 2003 notification keeping Sehajdhari Sikhs out of the SGPC elections had been taken back. Sukhbir called for Harbhagwan Singh’s prosecution besides “uncovering the entire conspiracy.” The day saw several developments. The SAD leadership first got together at the party office here and decided to forcefully oppose the withdrawal of the 2003 notification. Accordingly, workers led by Sukhbir Badal handed over a memorandum to Gurdwara Election Commissioner Justice (retd) HS Brar. Even as the delegation was returning back came the news that Home minister P Chidambaram had announced in Parliament that the government had no intention of withdrawing the notification and that the SGPC elections would be held on schedule. A jubilant SAD said the U-turn by the Centre was a “victory” for the Sikh Panth. Its president Sukhbir Badal claimed that the anger expressed by the Sikhs at yesterday’s events in the High Court had forced the Centre to “kill its own conspiracy”, a la Anna Hazare. He claimed Capt Amarinder along with his “colleague” Paramjit Singh Sarna (Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Managing Committee head) had conspired to scuttle the SGPC elections because the SAD-Sant Samaj-BKU alliance was headed to a historic victory. Sukhbir claimed the anger against the Congress would sweep the party back to power in the coming assembly elections. Pradesh Congress chief Capt Amarinder denied he had anything to do with yesterday’s events, saying he could not be targeted solely because Harbhagwan had served as Advocate-General in his government. “Yesterday the Centre was their enemy and today it is me”, he remarked.
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Capt: Nothing to do with ex-AG’s statement in HC
Chandigarh, September 2 Reacting to a sequence of statements issued by the father-son duo since yesterday, Capt Amarinder remarked: “I see panic and frustration in their statements. That is why the three statements issued since last night, two by Sukhbir and one by Mr Badal, differ with one another so much.” He said the Badals were not the sole guardians of panthic interests, as projected by them and “opposing and exposing them does not mean opposing the Panth”. The former Chief Minister made it clear that he had nothing to do with what the Centre’s standing counsel had said in the High Court on Thursday. Lashing out at Sukhbir for blaming the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre yesterday and today trying to put all the blame on him, the PCC president remarked: “This only indicates a frightened state of mind that perceives enemies where there are none”. He reiterated that the Sehajdhari Sikhs had a genuine right to participate and vote in the SGPC elections and the 1925 Act clearly specified that the Sehajdharis were as much Sikhs as anyone else. He pointed out that of the 1.22 crore Sikh voters, 62 lakh Sehajdharis had been excluded, which was “ totally illegal, unjustified and unlawful.” |
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CM smells a plot
New Delhi, September 2 Speaking to reporters outside Parliament,
Badal, who was accompanied by Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Tarlochan Singh, Naresh Gujral and Balwinder Singh
Bhunder, alleged that “Punjab Congress leader Capt Amarinder Singh and DSGMC president Paramjit Singh Sarna were hand-in- glove with former Punjab Advocate General Harbhagwan Singh and he misinformed the HC that the Centre had withdrawn the 2003 notification, even without instructions from the Union Home Ministry.” “It is shocking that even the Union Government was reportedly kept in the dark about the mischief played in Chandigarh yesterday. The whole matter must be probed and those behind the dangerous game must be exposed,” the Punjab Chief Minster said. Both, Badal and Dhindsa were careful in blaming the state Congress while not wanting to apportion blame at the Home Ministry or the
PMO. Badal termed the act of Harbhagwan Singh as a “fraud” and demanded that the guilty must be punished. “The matter must be taken most seriously and must not be allowed to rest till the conspiracy behind it is exposed ,” he said.
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Sarna calls it a friendly match between Centre, Badal
Ludhiana, September 2 Sarna said that the announcement that the notification barring Sehajdhari Sikhs from the SGPC elections had been withdrawn was a gameplan of Badal and the Centre. “Badal was the captain of this team. It was a clearly a plan by the Badal and the
Centre. The motive was to befool the Sikhs. It’s sad that the Centre is working on the directions of
Badal,” Sarna said replying to a question whether he (Sarna) was a Congress “agent”. Charging Badal with misleading the Sikhs, Sarna said: “During the hearing of the case regarding the Sehajdhari Sikhs, there was no lawyer representing the state. If he
(Badal) is so concerned about the rights of Sikhs, why did he not depute any lawyer in the court during the hearing yesterday,” he asked. “There are 38 lakh bogus voters in Punjab alone. The DSGMC has issued voter I-cards with photographs of the voters. The same He charged Badal of siding with the Congress as well as the
RSS. “Its Badal who has a say in the Congress as both his son and daughter are married in Congress families.” Accompanying
Sarna, senior leader Manjit Singh Calcutta said: “Any leader who opposes the Badals are dubbed as a Congress agent. This is the way Badal runs his party.”
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Schoolboy kept in ‘solitary confinement’ for over a week
Nabha, September 2 For their part, the school authorities said the allegations were baseless. The high court has also issued a contempt notice to Nabha SDM and marked an inquiry to the Secretary, Education (Punjab), into the complaints of alleged harassment of students by the school management. Gurnek Singh, a resident of Phillaur, Jalandhar, said: "My son was illegally detained on the school premises at the behest of some school officials. We filed a habeas corpus for his release after the school authorities refused to listen to our plea." A police team led by Nabha SHO GS Sikand along with SDM Poonam Deep visited the school premises and pressed upon the school authorities to hand over Sukhwinder's custody to his parents. "His parents are now happy and they have met the child in our presence as per the court orders," said Sikand. Sukhwinder was allegedly kept in solitary confinement for over a week as punishment, said Gurnek. "Despite repeated attempts, the school authorities did not allow us to meet him nor was he allowed to attend the school. We were left with no option but to approach the court," he said. Gurnek alleged that they approached the SDM regarding the issue for two days at her house and even tried to contact her over the phone, "but she refused to listen to our plea despite the court order". According to the legal notice slapped by Gurnek on the school headmaster: "On August 22, Gurnek's wife Baljit Kaur visited the school to drop her second son Gurjinder. Sukhwinder requested housemaster BR Gordon to allow him to meet his mother. But instead of granting permission, the school officials, including BR Gordon, RS Sodhi and Rajesh Rai, mercilessly started beating Sukhwinder Singh…. The assailants physically pushed my wife, assaulted her and outraged her modesty and later abused my son and my wife." School Principal denies allegation PPS headmaster Jagpreet Singh claimed that Sukhwinder approached his housemaster for a 'market slip', which was not issued to him as it was against school rules. "Following this, Sukhwinder abused and hit his housemaster in the presence of his mother and teachers. After an inquiry, the student was found guilty," Jagpreet said.
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Mann: Rise above caste divide
Mann, who has filed nominations from Bassi Pathana and Channanwal (Barnala), claimed that with the Sikhs denied a separate marriage Act, the Central Government had made it clear that it did not view the Sikhs as a separate community. Almost 1,28,763 Sikh voters will decide the fate of four candidates in Fatehgarh Sahib in the SGPC elections slated for September 18.
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Sehajdhari issue as old as Gurdwara Act
Chandigarh, September 2 The debate over the issue becomes centrestage every time elections to the SGPC are held. In the first 12 or 13 elections to the general house of the SGPC, Sehajdhari Sikhs exercised their right to vote. They were defranchised in 2003 when the general house of the SGPC passed a resolution to that effect. Subsequently, the Union Home Ministry put its stamp of approval on the general house decision on October 8, 2003, notifying that Sehajdhari Sikhs were no more part of the electoral college of the SGPC. This notification was challenged by the Sehajdharis in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. They, however, did not get any reprieve as the 2004 SGPC elections were held without restoration of their voting right. Since the withdrawal of right to vote was notified in 2003 and the 2004 elections were held without Sehajdharis on the electroal rolls, the withdrawal of the notification now would have created both legal and social problems. Histrorically speaking, the term word Sehajdhari finds no mention either in any of the Sikh granths or the Sikh Rehat Maryada. In 2008, when the issue of defining a Sikh was taken up by the Constitution Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in the Gurleen Kaur vs SGPC case, the Sehajdhari issue figured nowhere though references were made to Amritdhari” (baptised) Sikhs, non-baptised Sikhs and “patit” Sikhs , those who have cut or plucked their hair. The Bench had concluded that only those who maintain “Sikhi swarup” and follow the Sikh Gurus, Guru Granth Sahib and do not believe in any other religion or faith can be considered as Sikhs. Even at that time, though the SGPC had submitted an affidavit defining Sehajdhari Sikhs, it was later withdrawn following objections from various quarters. While the Sehajdharis maintain they follow the Sikh tenets, they do not agree with the definition of the SGPC . Other schools of thought clubbed the Sehajdharis with traditional Punjabi Hindu families that raised their eldest son as a Sikh. Another difference of opinion between Sehajdharis and the SGPC has been over “patit” Sikhs. Some believe that those who deviate from the “rehat” after getting “baptised” become “patit”. The Sehajdharis, however, subscribe to the belief that any non-baptised Sikh who cuts hair or plucks hair is “patit”. The definition of Sikh had generated an animated debate at a time when the draft of the All-India Gurdwara Act was being approved. At that time, the SGPC had endorsed the definition of Sikh as mentioned in the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Act. Looking back, Sehajdharis, especially those in some parts of western Punjab (now in Pakistan), were recognised as Sikhs as they believed only in Guru Granth Sahib and gurdwaras. Since the Sikhs enjoyed some special facilities at that time, the same were extended to Sehajdhari Sikhs. It is part of history that certificates issued by the SGPC got them recognition as Sehajdhari Sikhs. They all followed Sikh rites and rituals.
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Who qualifies as a Sikh? A Sikh is supposed to follow the path laid down by the Gurus, believe in the teachings of Guru Granth Sahib, keep the five k’s…all this is widely known. However, when it comes to defining who a Sikh is, there is a degree of ambiguity that crops up from time to time, often fuelled by vested political interests. In defining a Sikh, we go back to the Rehat-namas issued after Guru Gobind Singh in which the teachings of the Gurus were or given as Code of Conduct by prominent Sikhs. In modern times, the need of defining who a Sikh is was largely legalistic, in response to a perceived need of having a Sikh body manage the affairs of historical gurdwaras which were then in the hands of the mahants. In 1915, Sikhs got together to define a Sikh and their definition had a bearing on the Sikh Gurdwaras Act which was adopted in 1925, It says: “If any question arises as to whether any living person is or is not a Sikh, he shall be deemed respectively to be or not to be a Sikh according as he makes or refuses to make in such manner as the (State) Government may prescribe the following declaration: “I solemnly affirm that I am a Sikh, that I believe in the Guru Granth Sahib, that I believe in the Ten Gurus, and that I have no other religion.” In the 1930s, prominent scholars, leaders and organisations participated in the proceedings of the SGPC's Code of Conduct and Conventions Sub-Committee. They included such luminaries as Giani Thakar Singh, Amritsar, Giani Sher Singh, Bhai Budh Singh, Akali Kaur Singh, Sant Sangat Singh of Kamaliya, Bhai Kahn Singh of Nabha, Pandit Basant Singh of Patiala, Bhai Vir Singh of Amritsar, Bawa Harkishan Singh, Principal, Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Gujranwala, Pandit Kartar Singh of Dakha, Ludhiana, the Jathedars of Sri Akal Takht, Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Takht Sri Patna Sahib, Prof Ganga Singh, Prof Jodh Singh, Justice Teja Singh, Bhai Randhir Singh and Prof Teja Singh ( who was conveneor of the sub-committee). Rehat Maryada The Sikh Rehat Maryada, issued by the SGPC in 1945 after deliberations, terms Sikh as: “Any human being who faithfully believes in: (i) one immortal being. (ii) Ten Gurus, from Guru Nanak Dev to Guru Gobind Singh. (iii) Guru Granth Sahib. (iv) the utterance and teachings of the Ten Gurus and (v) the baptism bequeathed by the Tenth Guru and who does not owe allegiance to any other religion, is a Sikh.” Amritdhari Sikh The Sikh Gurdwaras Act says that Amritdhari Sikh means and includes every person who has taken khande-ka-amrit or Khanda Pahul prepared and administered according to the tenets of Sikh religion and rites at the hands of five pyare or the ‘beloved ones’ Sehajdhari Sikh A Sehajdhari Sikh means a person: (i) who performs ceremonies according to Sikh rites; (ii) who does not use tobacco or kutha (halal meat) in any form; (iii) who is not a patit; and (iv) who can recite Mul Mantar . Meaning of Patit “Patit” means a person who being a Keshdhari Sikh trims or shaves his beard or keshas or who, after taking amrit commits any one or more of the four kurahits(breach of code) (a) trimming or shaving hair, (2) eating halal meat; (3) sexual contact with a person other than one’s spouse; and (4) using tobacco.
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Sehajdhari term does not exist in Sikhism, claims Sant Samaj
Chandigarh, September 2 This means the Sehajdharis, many of them Hindus who believe in Sikh religion and practices, are not being given any space in Sikhism. Sant Samaj general secretary and former militant Jasbir Singh Rode, speaking on behalf of the Sant Samaj, which is contesting the SGPC elections along with the SAD, said the term Sehajdhari was a creation of politicians and that Sikhism did not recognise the same. Asked to specify in which the category did the ‘Sindhi Hindus’ who believed in Sikhism fall, said they could be simply termed only as “disciples of the Sikh Gurus.” SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal claimed that the issue had been laid to rest after the SGPC passed a resolution in 2002, clarifying that only ‘puran Keshadhari’ Sikhs could participate in the SGPC elections. He said the Centre had passed a notification to this effect and elections were held in keeping with the 2004 notification. Asked why the performa for the SGPC elections carried a column for the Sehajdharis, he said this was so because it was the practice earlier. Sehajdhari Sikh Party head Dr Paramjit Singh Ranu maintains that the SAD, which was questioning the very existence of Sehajdharis, had a Sehajdhari wing in the party till 1971. He said the term was incorporated in the Sikh Gurdwara Act in 1959. SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar maintains that times have changed, indicating that there were practically no Hindus who followed Sikh rituals, as was the case earlier. “Where are they now”, he asked. Pradesh Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh differed with Makkar, saying every person born of a Sikh father or Sikh mother or one who had adopted the Sikh religion should have the right to vote. He claimed there were more Sehajdharis than baptised Sikhs and that the former had been voting in the SGPC elections since the inception of the Sikh Gurdwara Act.
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Amend Gurdwara Act, says Makkar
Chandigarh, September 2 Speaking his mind after meeting Justice (retd) HS Brar, Chief Commissioner, Gurdwara Election Commission, Makkar said the issue of taking away the voting rights of the Sehajdhari Sikhs was decided way back in 2003 but the Centre had not amended The Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925, leading to the confusion. “The Centre merely issued a notification on October 8, 2003, denying the Sehajdharis the right to vote. But the SGPC now demands that the Ccentre must amend The Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925, with the clause saying that only Amritdhari and Keshdhari Sikhs have the right to participate in the SGPC elections”. The SGPC president demanded that there should be no change in the schedule of the SGPC elections. He said in a memorandum to Justice Brar, it had been pleaded that the elections should be held on time.
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Separate Marriage Act
Amritsar, September 2 The Sikh clergy held an emergency meeting on the Sehajdhari and the Sikh marriage Act issues. To a query, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh said: “If the Sikh maryada is violated, being a Sikh, we can summon the PM and even initiate action against him. Even Maharaja Ranjit Singh was awarded tankhah (punishment for religious misconduct) when he violated the Sikh code of conduct.” He said Sikhs across the globe would not tolerate interference in the community’s affairs. On the Centre dropping the proposal for a separate Sikh marriage Act, the Sikh clergy served an ultimatum on the Centre to resolve the issue by September 26, failing which they would initiate a “decisive move”. The Akal Takht Jathedar said the move had made the Sikhs feel they were “second-class citizens.” —
TNS
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Moga sex scandal an extraordinary case, CBI probe necessary, rules apex court
New Delhi, September 2 “We find that the High Court was of the view that the investigating officer even of the rank of DSP was not in a position to investigate the case fairly and truthfully because senior functionaries of the state police and political leaders” had to be booked for the sex scandal, a Bench comprising Justices RV Raveendran and AK Patnaik noted. The December 11, 2007, HC order had also pointed out that political and administrative compulsions were “making it difficult for the investigating team to go any further to bring home the truth”, the apex court noted. At least eight police officials, political leaders, advocates, municipal councillors, besides a number of persons belonging to the general public, had been named in the status report of the local police. “In the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case, the HC felt that justice would not be done to the case if the investigation stays in the hands of the local police and for these reasons directed that the investigation of the case be handed over to the CBI,” the apex court reasoned in the 23-page verdict. The state government had questioned the HC order for CBI probe ignoring the fact that the police had completed its investigations and filed the chargesheet following which the trial had begun. Rejecting this contention, the SC said the HC was of the view that a CBI probe was necessary for meeting the “ends of justice.” Citing an earlier apex court verdict (West Bengal and others vs. Committee for Protection of Democratic Rights (2010/2SCC571), the Bench said the extraordinary powers of the HC under Article 226 of the Constitution should be exercised sparingly, cautiously and in exceptional situations where the incident had national or internal ramifications or for doing complete justice. “This caution equally applies to the cases where the HC exercises inherent powers under Section 482 of the CrPC to direct investigation by the CBI for securing the ends of justice…In other words, this was one of those extra-ordinary cases where the direction of the HC for investigation by the CBI was justified,” the Bench ruled. Among those who had figured in the scandal were Moga Municipal Councillors Bhushan Garg and Inderjit Singh, Inspector Amarjit Singh, Sub-Inspectors Raman Singh and Ramaj Kumar (who was subsequently dismissed).
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College, university teachers to
observe Sept 5 as ‘Black Day’
Patiala, September 2 The members of various bodies, including Punjab Agricultural University Teachers Association (PAUTA), GNDU Teachers Association, Punjab Government College Teachers Association (PFCTA), Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU), GADVASU Teachers Association, Panjab University Teachers Association (PUTA) and teachers from the Punjabi University, would be participating in the protest. PFUCTO vice-president Prof Jaipal Singh said, “As many as 2,000 teachers from across the state will be attending the rally. The main aim behind launching the agitation is to press upon the state government to disburse the arrears of the revised pay scales of teachers and other academic staff of universities, government colleges and government-aided private colleges.” He said while the Punjab Government had disbursed 40 per cent of the arrears of the revised pay among the employees of the other departments, arrears of the revised pay of the teachers had not been released. Dr Jagwant Singh, PFUCTO general secretary, rued that the state government had disbursed some portion of the arrears of the revised pay even to the clerical staff and Class IV employees but teachers had been left out, which was nothing but a “step-motherly” treatment. “Some other demands of the teachers include giving the full pension benefits after the service of 20 years, filing all vacant posts of the teaching faculty in the universities, providing funds for the upgradation and betterment of the educational infrastructure and the research works and enhancing the retirement age upto 65 years. We demand that all these demands should be accepted without any delay,” he asserted. what they demand l
Disbursement of arrears of teachers, other academic staff as per the revised pay scale l Full pension benefits after the service tenure of 20 years l Filling all vacant posts of the teaching faculty in the universities l Providing funds for the upgradation and betterment of the educational infrastructure l Enhancing the retirement age to 65 years
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Protest against fresh violence at medical college
Faridkot, September 2 Dr Arvind Bansal, a student said, that three masked youths came on a Bullet motorcycle bearing no number plate and reached to the main gate of the campus where they were stopped by the security guard on duty. The guard asked them for their identities, which they refused to disclose and instead started beating the guard who received minor injuries. On August 21, a group of female students were stopped by some hooligans.
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Pak grants funds for maintenance of Rai Bular Khan’s graveyard
Patiala, September 2 In a letter to Pannu, the PM wrote, "We have taken up this matter with the relevant authorities in Pakistan. The Government of Punjab, Pakistan, has informed us that the Chief Minister has allocated funds for the maintenance of the graveyard, tree plantation and construction of a tomb at the grave of Rai Bular Khan. According to them, the resources are being mobilised for the work to start at the earliest. They are also taking steps to improve the basic infrastructure in district Nankana Sahib to facilitate visits of Sikh pilgrims and other tourists. We will continue to liaise with the relevant authorities in Pakistan to follow up the matter.” Thanking the PM and the Government of Pakistan to concede to his demand, Pannu said he was delighted by the letter. He informed that he went to Pakistan on a pilgrimage to Nankana Sahib in 1996 when he saw the pitiable condition of the grave of Rai Bular Khan. Narrating his experience, he said “When I visited the grave, the women were making dung cakes and cattle were tied to the trees of the graveyard. I met the family members of Rai Sahib and requested them to maintain the spot gracefully. A member of the family said Rai Sahib had given 750 murrabas of land to Guru Nanak Sahib and why cant Sikhs maintain it themselves now”. Throwing light on the life of Rai Bular, Pannu said he was a landlord of Rai Bhoi village, now known as Nankana Sahib. He owned 1500 murrabs land in 6 villages. “He was the one who recognised the powerful spirit in Guru Nanak when he was very young. He possessed everything but no successor. At the age of 13, Guru Nanak prayed for him and his wife gave birth to a son. Rai arranged a grand lunch for the neighbouring villagers. Overwhelmed, Rai announced to transfer half of his property in the name of Guru Nanak. This land is in the title of Guru Nanak till date,” he further added.
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Prime accused in Rulda Singh murder case questioned
Patiala, September 2 The city police has questioned the role of Daljit Singh, who, according to the police, conspired the killing of Punjab Rashtriya Sikh Sangat president Rulda Singh. Sources confirmed that Daljit Singh, who was deported from Malaysia earlier last month, was taken into custody by the Jagraon police where he is wanted in an arms and explosives case in 2008. In mid-August this year, three alleged militants wanted by the state police after they had left the country and fled to Malaysia, were deported. Those deported included Amarjit Singh, wanted by the Mohali and Patiala police in connection with Rashtirya Sikh Sangat chief Rulda Singh’s murder, Daljit Singh, wanted in an RDX-related case, and 40-year-old Kanwal Singh Sondh, who is wanted by the Amritsar police in the recovery of arms and ammunition case. Senior officials in Patiala confirmed that while Amarjit was questioned a week ago in the Rulda Singh murder case, Daljit Singh’s questioning was completed on Monday. He is now in Nabha jail. “We have got vital details from these two pertaining to the murder plot of Rulda Singh and how they all had connived together to carry out the assassination”, they said. Confirming the developments, Patiala SP (D) Pritpal Singh Thind said the two accused were questioned in the past one week and vital information pertaining to the murder came to light. Another police official, who questioned Daljit Singh, reported that sitting in Malaysia, these accused had used their means to arrange fake passports and money. “Their role is vital in the entire case as they escaped from India and settled abroad. We are keen to know about their financial means as they all were found to be well-off abroad”, he stated. A UK police team had visited Patiala earlier this year to investigate the murder case. Rulda Singh was shot dead on July 28, 2009, by two assailants who later fled from the spot. The case file - Punjab Rashtriya Sikh Sangat president Rulda Singh was shot dead on July 28, 2009 - A UK police team had visited Patiala earlier this year to investigate the case - Daljit Singh, the main accused, was deported from Malaysia earlier last month, and was taken into custody by the Jagraon police where he is wanted in an arms and explosives case in 2008
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I-T raids on realty developers
Chandigarh, September 2 The raids, carried out by as many as 150 personnel of the I-T Department, were conducted simultaneously at the company’s offices and residential premises of the owners. According to officials, the search and seizure operations were still on till the filing of this report at 8 pm and they claimed that several incriminating documents had been seized and sealed. While officials were not ready to reveal more, a senior official confirmed that the search operations were carried out under the supervision of Dr Rajinder Kaur, Deputy Director, Patiala. According to information, Gillco developers has various projects in tricity, including Gillco Heights, Gillco Villas, Gillco Towers and Bajwa Developers started its first mega project in the name of Sunny Enclave, Desu Majra, Kharar.
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Demolition of nursing college
Patiala, September 2 The nurses alleged that the administration had ordered the demolition without providing any alternate accommodation to them. They insisted that they would not leave the accommodation unless some alternate accommodation was provided to them. Observing the situation getting grim, Principal of Government Medical College Dr KD Singh ordered to stop the work immediately. Medical Superintendent of Rajindra Hospital Dr MS Mohi reached the spot and gave a duration of 15 days to the nurses to find accommodation for themselves. Dr KD Singh said these nurses were working on contractual basis at the hospital and were not entitled for any accommodation. “We provided them with the accommodation for the sake of courtesy. But now, we need to demolish this building for it has already outlived its life. Moreover, we are constructing a state-of-the-art nursing college in that particular area and they will have to leave it. The entire plan has been finalised. How can these nurses claim an alternate accommodation when there is no such provision?” he said. “Still considering their request, we have given them 15 days to look for their personal accommodation. After that, they would certainly have to vacate the rooms because we cannot compromise with our project which would be helpful for the entire state,” Singh added.
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Consumer panel asks SBoP to pay Rs 2,600
Sangrur, September 2 The forum directed the duo to pay a consolidated amount of Rs 2,100 as compensation for the mental torture, humiliation and the litigation expenses besides directing them to pay Rs 500 for cancelling the currency note bearing No. 4FP 433 914. The forum president, PL Ahuja, and members Harvinder Lal Sharma and Nisha Sarad directed them for compliance of the order within 60 days. Chamkaur Singh had lodged the complaint before the forum on March 24, 2011. He is working as a clerk with advocates AS Sarao and Manpreet Singh. He averred that he visited the bank on March 14 this year to deposit Rs 6,000 on behalf of both the advocates. However, the dealing clerk returned him a currency note of Rs 500 denomination after crossing it as counterfeit. He said all his efforts in approaching the branch manager and the other bank officials to change the currency note turned futile.
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Blood donation camp
Dera
Bassi, September 2 Addressing the gathering on the occasion, SAD district president and Ujagar Singh
Badali, MLA of Morinda, said the party would follow the principles of Captain Kanwaljeet Singh and his dreams would be fulfilled. Among others who addressed the gathering included Manpreet Kaur Dolly, daughter of Kanwaljit Singh, SGPC candidate Narmail Singh Joula and Jora Singh.
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Ludhiana resident held with revolver
Lalru, September 2 He was booked under the Arms Act and will be produced in the Dera Bassi court tomorrow. Three mobile phone sim cards and a voter card of Karmjeet Kaur, wife of Dalbara Singh, resident of Sihala village, district Ludhiana, were also recovered from the custody of accused. Sub-Inspector Santokh Singh said the accused had received mobile sims on the voter card of Karmjeet Kaur and misused the mobile phone for threatening people for different purposes. Moreover, the accused had stolen motorcycle from
Ambala.
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Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder Singh today defied prohibitory orders at Gobindpura village and forced his entry into the area along with Leader of Opposition in assembly Rajinder Kaur
Bhatta.
Chandigarh, September 2
Nabha, September 2
The SAD, the Sant Samaj as well as the SGPC today claimed the term Sehajdhari did not exist in Sikhism and that Sikhs were either ‘puran’ or ‘patit’, meaning those that followed the ‘rehat maryada’ (Sikh code of conduct) and those who did not, but believed in the Sikh tenets.
Fatehgarh, September 2